Toyoda Castle

Note that the actual site of Toyota Castle was about 1.5km to the southeast (36.105987, 139.998726). The faux tenshu is actually the Jousou Municipal Local Cultural Exchange Center, opened in 1992. Construction started in 1989. The large tower is surrounded by many smaller mock yagura which look lik

History

Founded by Toyoda Yoshimoto in 1346 as his fortified residence, this castle is said to have possessed a real tenshu in the Sengoku Period, albeit much smaller but, interestingly, with a thatched roof (just my opinion, but I'd rather see that rebuilt). The faux reconstructed tenshu dates to 1989 and is not intended to be remotely historically accurate.

In the Sengoku Period Toyoda Masachika took over as castellan and allied his clan with the Oda Clan ((小田氏) of Kantou, based at Oda Castle). In 1558 Toyoda Haruchika took over and allied with Ishige Masashige of nearby Ishige Castle in their ongoing war with the Tagaya Clan based at Shimotsuna Castle. In 1578 the Tagaya were able to have Haruchika assassinated with poisoning, and without his leadership the clan was defeated. The Tagaya Clan then took over Toyoda Castle. Toyoda Castle was abandoned in 1601.

Field Notes

Note that the actual site of Toyota Castle was about 1.5km to the southeast (36.105987, 139.998726). The faux tenshu is actually the Jousou Municipal Local Cultural Exchange Center, opened in 1992. Construction started in 1989. The large tower is surrounded by many smaller mock yagura which look like they're actual purpose is to be used as garages. There is a marker for the castle found at the actual site near the Kokai River.

Gallery

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  Faux Reconstructed Donjon
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Castle Profile
English Name	Toyoda Castle
Japanese Name	豊田城
Alternate Names	石毛城・石下城・常総市地域交流センター
Founder	Toyoda Yoshimoto
Year Founded	1346
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	5 tiers, 8 storeys (inc. basement)
Year Reconstructed	1989
Artifacts	Dorui, Mogi Tenshu, Mogi Yagura, Mogi Ishigaki
Features	main keep, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Ishige Station on the Kantou Railway Jousou Line; 10 minute walk
Hours	Mogi Tenshu is open 9am-4:30pm
Time Required	40 minutes
URL	Castle Website
Location	Jousou, Ibaraki Prefecture
Coordinates	36.11329, 139.97981
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2021
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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(one vote)

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